Middletown man drowns at Wildwood beach

The man’s name has not been release, pending the notification of his family.

According to the Press of Atlantic City’s online post, Wildwood Beach Patrol lifeguards entered the ocean at 12:50 p.m. to rescue several swimmers that were in distress. Once everyone returned to shore, it was discovered the Middletown man was still missing.

Police, fire and beach patrol units from Wildwood, North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, plus troopers from the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a search for the man. His body was discovered by surfers at the beach near Rambler Avenue in Wildwood Crest at about 2:50 p.m., the Press of Atlantic City report said.

Wildwood Crest lifeguards reportedly retrieved the body and tried to revive the man until Wildwood Crest Rescue officials arrived. The man was taken to Cape Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

South Jersey beaches experienced an active season of rip currents that created dangerous swimming conditions, leading to five drownings and hundreds of rescues.

In Atlantic City, three people died this summer. In Sea Isle City, two people died. A Cape May effort involving two firefighters and several lifeguards in August rescued one person.